Bioactivity and Phytochemical Screening of Nigerian Medicinal Plants Growing in Ondo and Ekiti State against Bacterial Isolates from Pediatrics Hospital

Abstract

The Aqueous, ethanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves, bark and roots of Acacia albida, Anchomanes difformis, Boscia senegalensis, Bridelia ferruginea, Ficus ingens, Indigofera arrecta and Moringa oleifera were tested for possible source of antibacterial activities against selected clinical organisms found in the pediatrics hospital in Ondo and Ekiti State, Nigeria. The selected clinical organisms used for this research work are Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. It was observed that all plant were potent against the clinical test organism. Anchomanes difformis, Moringa oleifera and Indigofera arrecta extracts were the most active medicinal plants during the course of this research work. Boscia senegalensis, Acacia albida, Bridelia ferruginea and Ficus ingens extract were not as active against the test organism. All the medicinal plants extract shows evidence of antibacterial properties. Phytochemical screening of the medicinal plants reveals, very important and vital phytochemicals like saponin, tanins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glucosides and anthraquinones, at a very appreciable quantity.it also reveals presence of minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper and phosphorus at mg/100 g which are essential  to biological and physiological activities. The main objectives of this research work are to investigate the antimicrobial potency and phytochemical activities of seven Nigerian Medicinal plants on Selected Clinical Organisms.